Asphalt 7: Heat preview – the best Android racing series is speeding towards the finishing line

I’ve said it before – even with high-end devices nowadays featuring quad-core processors and HD displays, it has always been the “simple” games like Angry Birds and Temple Run that have rocketed to the top of the charts on both the Android and iOS platforms. But there is a reason that we all want multi-core processors and high resolution displays, and checking e-mail in HD just isn’t that reason.

It might just be me, but one of the reasons I wanted and bought a device with high end specs is for cutting-edge gaming. While Angry Birds is a lot of fun and I had to force myself to stop playing Temple Run so I could write this piece, it’s the fast-paced, graphic-intensive games that get the heart racing and provide an amazing gameplay experience.

One such game is, or rather will be, Asphalt 7: Heat, developed by Gameloft.

What is Asphalt 7?

We live in a world where technology is ever-changing and there is always a “next big thing” right around the corner. In such a fickle world, staying relevant is tough, but Gameloft has certainly managed to do so with some awesome titles that it released over the years. Ranging from the simple but fun UNO card game, to Modern Combat 3 (which, on a side-note, requires no less than 1.37GB of free space on your device), Gameloft has a lot of titles that are doing pretty well on the Google Play Store. One of their most popular series has been the Asphalt racing franchise.

Asphalt 7: Heat is the latest iteration of the series, and the successor of the hugely popular “Asphalt 6: Adrenaline.” A teaser of the game was previewed at this year’s E3 event, which left a lot of people eagerly awaiting the final release of the game, expected to be, at the most, within a month.

After the immense popularity of Asphalt 6, Gameloft has a lot riding on its latest creation, and will of course, be looking to not only maintain, but further expand the success of the series. It looks like the Asphalt 7 developers have taken this to heart and pulled out all the stops to do so, with what could easily be crowned as the best mobile racing game for Android this year. Let’s take a look at what’s new.

What’s new in Asphalt 7?

Over 60 licensed vehicles, with the list of manufacturers including Audi, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin, up from the 42 cars and bikes you could choose from in Asphalt 6. Granted, the better cars will be available later in the game.

If you would like to get behind the wheel of a Lamborghini right from the start, you will have the option to “rent” your dream car for a day, using in-app purchasing.

15 racing tracks including new locations such as London, Paris, Miami, Rio, and Hawaii

Six different game modes including Quick Race, King of the Hill, Elimination, and Paint Job (which involves crashing into opponents).

Apart from updating the online and local multiplayer options, Asphalt 7 introduces “Asphalt Tracker,” which will let you challenge friends and compare stats and achievements.

You can race in the DeLorean seen in the “Back to the Future” movies!

Apart from the above changes, there will also be an expected upgrade in the graphics of the game, which Gameloft claims, in the preview video, to be “the most lifelike graphics ever.”

Asphalt 7 trailer video

If you’ve missed it, or just want to watch it again, here is the preview video of Asphalt 7: Heat.

Unfortunately, we have no official word on the Asphalt 7 release date or what the pricing will be. But it is highly unlikely that the game will be free.

The good news is that an Android release will be at or around the same time with the iOS release, bucking the trend of developers requiring at least an extra three months to releasing an Android version. With the teaser promising “this summer,” we can expect/hope to have Asphalt 7 out by the end of July at the latest. The sooner the better.

I can’t wait to get my hands on this game. Once it hits Android, we will have a video review of Asphalt 7 and maybe a top of the best racing games for Android.

What about you? Are you excited of how Asphalt 7: Heat is shaping up? Let us know in the comments section below.